Air Pollution - North Side vs. South Side (Memphis, Knoxville: house, allergies)

[MegaFarad]

We've sold our house and are trying to decide between moving to Gallatin or Brentwood. What are the potential health risks of living near the coal power plant and possibly the quarry that is located on Cage's Bend and 31? After doing a little research, it appears that the Brentwood area has fewer pollutants such as mercury, benzine, arsenic, etc. However, it also says that Gallatin has a better air quality index than Brentwood and Tennessee overall. I'm not really sure what the AQI is exactly, since the two sets of figures don't jive.

I'm getting this data from Moderator cut: link removed, competitor site
and Moderator cut: link removed, competitor site
.

I'd like to hear comments about the air quality of these two areas. I know they are refitting the power plant in Gallatin with some new air scrubbers, but apparently these are SO₂ scrubbers - mercury, lead, benzine, and all the other pollutants are not cleaned by these. Also, apparently the ash is radioactive - does anyone know where the captured ash is stored (hopefully not in the area).

I thought about calling the plant, but I'm sure they'd give the PR spin of everything being hunky-dory.

[DonCorleone]

You've definitely done more research on this than I have, but speaking as a resident of Gallatin/Hendersonville (right between the 2) air quality has never been a concern for my family. We can see the power plant stacks from our freeway exit so it's not like it is out of sight out of mind. That said, I would think the difference between Gallatin and Brentwood's air quality would be primarily population density. Brentwood has a far higher density, higher traffic, and has a major interstate artery running through the middle of it. Gallatin is far smaller and has easy access to rural areas/wide open spaces. I can't think of any industrial complexes in Brentwood (to be fair, I'm not down there that often so maybe someone else elaborate) unlike Gallatin that does have quite a bit of heavy industry in addition to the power plant.

So, all that to say, I wonder if the website is factoring in automotive pollution as the primary contaminant? If so, that makes perfect sense as to why Brentwood would be higher. Honestly, unless you are especially sensitive to pollutants, I doubt it will be an issue from either location. Pollen and plant allergens, however, are notoriously bad in Middle TN.

[CountryGirl2b=]

Yes, if you don't have allergies, you might after you move here! I still love living here though . . . sniffle sniffle . . .

[BirdieBelle]

Air quality here is poor overall.

Do some research on the topography, and you will see that Middle Tennessee is in a basin, which allows particulates to hang around a lot longer than they might if, say, a sea breeze was blowing them across the lowlands.

[N.Cal]

Originally Posted by Wmsn4Life

Air quality here is poor overall.

Do some research on the topography, and you will see that Middle Tennessee is in a basin, which allows particulates to hang around a lot longer than they might if, say, a sea breeze was blowing them across the lowlands.

True. I've pretty much been sick with allergies the entire 19 months I've been here.

[BirdieBelle]

I've lived here 23 years, and I've pretty much "grown out of it," but I remember back when I first moved here, I felt MUCH better when I would go home to Memphis for a weekend.

[nashvols]

Originally Posted by Wmsn4Life

I've lived here 23 years, and I've pretty much "grown out of it," but I remember back when I first moved here, I felt MUCH better when I would go home to Memphis for a weekend.

Funny...that was Knoxville for me. I've always had pretty mild allergies that flare up about twice a year...but they were much worse when I was in Knoxville. I usually just had a stopped up nose when the spring trees and flowers first came out...but in Knoxville, I developed a strong eye irritation...which would magically go away when I came back to Nashville.

[MegaFarad]

Thanks for the info. I'm not too worried about allergies, I get seasonal allergies everywhere I've lived. No getting away from that in my case, I guess. I'm more concerned with the pollutants caused by the coal power plant and by the quarry. I'm trying to figure out if the scary stuff I'm reading about living near these things is bogus or if there's something to it.

[Anony-Momma]

Search the forum and the internet for news about the strange odors residents of Sullivan Farms reported.

[Anony-Momma]

Originally Posted by Anony-Momma

Search the forum and the internet for news about the strange odors residents of Sullivan Farms reported.

Found the thread

//www.city-data.com/forum/nashv...ior-essex.html